The latest on the Washington Nationals' triple-A affiliate in Syracuse from the Chiefs' front office.

Results tagged ‘ Ray Olmedo ’

BATTER OF THE WEEK: OF Adam Lind is picking up where he left off when he was promoted to Toronto in April. Lind went 7-for-21 (.333) this week with two doubles and triple. Also tack on three runs batted in for the University of South Alabama product. Lind fell a home run short of the cycle with a 4-for-4 night on the 19th against Rochester.

Honorable Mention: SS Ray Olmedo had a higher batting average over the last week than Lind (.375) going 6-for-16 with a double, five runs scored and two runs batted in. Meanwhile OF Wayne Lydon set a season-high with two stolen bases yesterday. Lydon put together an 8-for-25 (.320) week with a pair of doubles and four runs scored.PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Pretty much a no-brainer after the week RHP Josh Banks had. Banks made two starts going 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA. In 14.0 innings Banks gave up ten hits and two runs with one walk against five strikeouts. Banks lost on the 17th against Rochester but pitched 8.0 innings giving up three hits and one run. The lone run came against the first batter of the game who homered. Banks settled down to retire the final 10 batters he faced. He picked up where he left off tossing 6.0 innings against Buffalo Sunday yielding one run while scattering seven hits.

HONORABLE MENTION: RHP Blaine Neal picked up two saves and a win over the past seven days. Neal threw 3.2 innings in relief not giving up a run. He earned a win on the 18th and a save on each the 16th and 22nd.

BATTER OF THE WEEK: It was a shortened week coming back from the All-Star Break but OF Michael Vento got off to good start in the “second half.” Vento went 4-for-13 (.308) with a double and a home run while driving in a team-high five runs in the four games after the four-day long break.

HONORABLE MENTION: 1B Kevin Barker went 5-for-13 since the All-Star Break with a double in each of the three games he played. Barker drove in two runs and put together a 3-for-5 night at the dish on the 12th which was the first game back. Also, SS Ray Olmedo needs to get some props after belting his first home run of the season two nights ago. Olmedo batted .333 (5-for-15) with three runs scored and two extra base hits.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK: The Chiefs have played four games after the All-Star Break and LHP Mike Venafro has pitched in three of the ballgames. Venafro has pitched in each of the last three games totaling 3.2 innings and did not allow a run.

HONORABLE MENTION: RHP Mike MacDonald earned the Chiefs lone win in the past four games. MacDonald tossed six solid earning scattering seven hits and two runs against Pawtucket. The righty struck out four and walked one.

The Toronto Blue Jays made their final few decisions and the result caused a ripple effect on their minor league system. The Blue Jays decided to send down to the Chiefs pitchers Geremi Gonzalez and Brian Tallet, catcher Sal Fasano and designate pitcher Francisco Rosario for assignment.

The Chiefs roster currently looks like this with still a few decisions to be made:STARTING ROTATION: Four kids and a veteran. Dustin McGowan, Josh Banks, Ty Taubenheim and Ismael Ramirez made 60 AAA-starts in 2006. They all should be improved in their second season. Gonzalez a veteran will anchor the staff with Jamie Vermilyea and Jason Scobie also available for long relief or spot staring.

BULLPEN: Tallet is the lone lefty and will be used in situational roles, while newcomer Blaine Neal assumes the closer role. Set-up men include former Red Wing Beau Kemp, who helped Rochester to the I.L. Governors Cup Finals, Matt Roney who recorded an ERA under 3.00 with Sacramento last season, Ryan Houston who pitched exceptional from April-June last year before a terrible month of July balooned his ERA and newcomer Brain Wolfe, who was acquired in the Corey Koskie trade last season and bounced around from A-Dunedin and AA-New Hampshire in 2006. Wolfe could be the sleeper in this group.

INFIELDERS: Kevin Barker returns for his third season at 1B, Russ Adams returns to Syracuse this time to play second base, Slick fielding Ray Olmedo takes over at shortstop while John Hattig returns for his third season at 3B. Ryan Roberts will man the utility role and is very good at all three positions 2B, SS and 3B. The Chiefs should be very much improved up the middle with Olmedo and Adams, both have played in the major leagues, while Barker is very good around the bag at first. Hattig’s range is average at best, but should make up for it with his bat (.277 with 30 doubles last season). Roberts had a great spring and will see plenty of action.

OUTFIELDERS: Three spots with five quality players. Jeff Duncan will see most of the action in center field and can play defence. His speed on the turf at home should make him a .300 hitter. Super prospect Adam Lind will play left field while veterans Mike Vento (AAA All-Star at Columbus two years ago) and Chiefs Fan Favorite Chad Mottola share time in rightfield. 2005 MVP John-Ford Griffin is healthy and will get most of the DH at bats.

The Chiefs still need to drop one pitcher and will add Francisco Rosario and Brandon League at some point in early April with more changes yet to be made.

The Blue Jays opened the spring schedule this afternoon with a 4-1 win versus the Boston Red Sox.

Many of the players expected to be in Syracuse when the regular season opens performed well for the Jays. Adam Lind started in left-field and went 1-2 with a triple before being replaced by John-Ford Griffin who went 1-1 with a double. John Hattig was 1-2 with an RBI, Kevin Barker was 1-3. Non-roster invitee Jeff Duncan replaced Vernon Wells in center-field in the third inning and was 1-1 with a walk and a run scored.

On the mound Ty Taubenheim pitched a perfect 8th and Ryan Houston pitched a perfect ninth to earn the save.

The most interesting part if the box score is accurate is that Ryan Roberts, primarily a second-baseman, played shortstop in relief of Royce Clayton while Rey Olmedo, a natural shortstop, relieved Aaron Hill at second base.

The Jays travel tomorrow to take on the Boston Red Sox in Ft. Myers at 12:30 PM. Gustavo Chacin is scheduled to start for Toronto.

The Toronto Blue Jays picked up two additional players that could have an impact on the Syracuse Chiefs 2007 season. Veteran catcher Sal Fasano who has spent parts of the past ten seasons in the major leagues with the Royals, A’s, Rockies, Angels, Orioles and last season with the Phillies and Yankees signed a minor league deal with an invite to spring training that begins in three weeks.

Fasano, 35, will provide insurance for the Blue Jays who have Greg Zaun and Jason Phillips slotted at the catching position at the present time with prospect Curtis Thigpen on the way up and expected to start the season with the Chiefs.

The signing of Fasano allows the Blue Jays to allow Thigpen to continue to develop if the need for a third catcher or injury occurs.

The Jays also claimed infielder Ray Olmedo off waivers from the Reds and assigned him to their major league roster. The 25 year old native of Venezuela batted .282 for Louisville last season and recorded a .960 FPCT in 90-games at shortstop. Olmedo has appeared in 171-games with the Reds during the past 4-years (2003-2006).

The Blue Jays now have middle infielders Royce Clayton and Aaron Hill expected to start and John McDonald, Jason Smith, Russ Adams, Ray Olmedo, Sergio Santos and Ryan Roberts also in camp.

During the past week the Blue Jays outrighted 3B/OF Rob Cosby back to the Chiefs and will likely do the same to Roberts who was taken off the major League roster to make room for Olmedo.

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